1 I BEG you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, pleasing to God \'97 your rational worship.

2 Do not follow the fashions of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds so as to recognize what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

3 Through the grace given to me I say to every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought, but to think so as to become wise, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

4 For as in one body we have many members and the members do not all have the same function,

5 so we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.

6 Having gifts differing according to the grace given to us, if it is prophecy, let us use it according to the proportion of our faith;

7 if it is service, let us use it in service. Let the teacher use his gift in teaching.

8 Let the exhorter use his gift in exhorting. Let him who gives do it in simplicity. Let him who manages do it earnestly. Let him who helps the needy do it cheerfully.

9 Let your love be without pretense. Abhor what is evil; cling to the good.

10 Have brotherly love toward one another like family affection, in honor preferring one another,

11 never flagging in zeal, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,

12 rejoicing in hope, patient in trial, constant in prayer,

13 contributing to the needs of the holy, devoted to hospitality.

14 Pray for blessings on your persecutors, blessings, not curses.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

16 Be in harmony with one another. Do not be thinking of high things, but be content with humble things. Do not become conceited.

17 Repay to no one evil for evil. Aim at what is honorable in the sight of all men.

18 If possible, so far as depends on you, live at peace with all men.

19 Do not revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord."

20 But, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.